I had gastric sleeve. The insurance company was billed over $17,000. I paid $500 deductible out of pocket for the surgery. That doesn't include the co-pays for the doctor and nutritionist visits that were required before surgery.

There are a few ateas, 2 are Louisiana and Florida where it may be no more than $8000. but they are few and far between and occasionally the one in Florida ran specials.I want my surgery at a Center of Excellence hospital where they have the best doctors , dedicated bariatric wings or floors and are up to date, on the cutting edge of research etc. Luckily I do have insurance, if you don't you have to self pay or go out of the country. UK people go to Belgium, Estonia, Turkey or Switzerland. US and Canadians go to Mexico, if I were going there the only place would be BariatricPalMX, our founder Alex Brecher,helped found it, surgeon's are as good or better than ones above both borders, Alex trusted them enough to have surgery himself there recently. Otherwise there a few other good alternatives but most fly-by- night conveyer belt, patient and $,in, slip slap, patient out and on his own, no follow-up. I love me a little too much to go through that dog and pony show? How about YOU?

I am having mine done in Oklahoma the total cost is 25,000$ and that’s not even including the pre-op diet, exercise, psych, and nurse practitioner visits. Insurance will pay 20,000$ of my surgery but we have to cover the other 5,000$ plus a pre-op care package that contains everything for right before the surgery and after.

My insurance company was billed $45,000ish between the surgeon's fee and the hospital fee (lol). I paid $1350 out of pocket. That doesn't include the pre-op visits which I paid $35 bucks each for and maybe like $200 for the labs pre-op.

So you Northern cousins jump through provincial hoops, we jump through insurance ones, and unless you are wealthy enough to self-pay, that's just the way things go. Neither are totally perfect but we fulfill to receive.

Recent Status Updates

Thought I'd give an update. I'm over half way to my goal, which is awesome, and I've lost over 12 inches in my waist! The weight isn't coming off as quickly as I had hoped, but I am also not exercising and still not getting even close to the amount of water I should be drinking, so slow weight loss is not all that surprising. Sometimes I'm just "over it" and try to eat huge portions like I used to, but, thankfully, I feel the restriction of my smaller stomach and can't go crazy. In general, I'm quite good, just trying to live my life.
I now have a motivation to start exercising, though... I booked a plane ticket to Germany for the end of September, so this is a good chance to get strong, get hydrated, and reach my weight goal.

Wow looking through my own eyes I just don't see 50 lbs done. I took the side my side picture from 4 months ago to today's and can only see some change. I hope I can keep loosing. I just read that the window or the honeymoon stage of weight lost is in the first 4 months after that it will slow down and you have to work even harder to keep it going. Trying to keep positive even if it is one pound I lost in 2 weeks.

So I had my surgery on Jan 7th. At this point I haven't eaten anything for 2 weeks am giving myself my injections. I can barely stomach the protein shakes that I am to have twice a day. I have noticed a small weight loss not as much as I thought I would have since I haven't eaten anything. I haven't started working out at the gym yet. I broke in a horrible case of hives from my incisions but have since been cleared up. I didn't really have any nausea from my surgery. I don't even feel like I had surgery. I am sure once I start eating I will notice. To ask others. I have sleeve surgery so wondering if anyone else out there had this surgery how did you feel after. When did you start eating foods. I am nervous to start eating. I drink my 64oz plus water a day but that's about it that I am taking in other than the occasional sugar free Popsicle.

In the beginning, I was sure that I would go straight to malnutrition hell if I missed even a dose. Turns out, it takes several weeks to months to get yourself in any substantial trouble. My excellent labwork has proven to me that it's not just okay to skip (out of laziness or accidentally) your supplements, but it probably saves you a couple of bucks here and there. Mellow out is my new mantra. Go the best you can with hydration, protein, and your recommended supplements. Trying to live a stress-free life is infinitely more important than your supplements for any given day. (None of this little blabfest was intended for the lovely and ever-knowledgable GT.)